Description
This recipe provides a method for achieving perfectly crispy air-fried chicken wings with minimal effort, resulting in a sticky gochujang honey glaze that balances savory, sweet, and spicy flavors. It’s an ideal option for fast weeknight dinners or high-protein game day snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2.5 lb chicken wings, bone-in skin-on
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (low-sodium or tamari)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- 1 stalk green onion, thinly sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken Wings: If using whole wings, separate them into drumettes and flats. Pat the chicken wings extremely dry with paper towels. Toss the dried wings with neutral oil, sea salt, and black pepper in a large bowl.
- Air Fry Wings: Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Arrange seasoned wings in a single layer in the basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding. Air fry for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Ensure Crispiness: Cook until wings are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). For extra crispiness, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes at 420°F (215°C) after reaching the initial cook time.
- Make Glaze: While wings cook, combine gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, and toasted sesame oil in a small saucepan. Whisk continuously over medium-low heat until smooth. Bring to a gentle simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens and becomes glossy.
- Toss and Garnish: Once cooked, transfer hot, crispy wings to a large clean bowl. Pour the warm glaze over the wings and toss gently until every piece is coated. Garnish immediately with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
To achieve maximum crispiness, it is essential to pat the wings completely dry before seasoning. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches to ensure hot air circulation. Since the glaze contains high sugar content, always air fry the wings first until crispy, then toss with the warm glaze immediately after cooking to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Korean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3-4 pieces
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: air fryer, chicken wings, gochujang, Korean, spicy, crispy, honey glaze, weeknight meal, game day food